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Positron emission tomography findings in children with infantile spasms and autism

Cengiz Dilber1, Mine Calışkan, Kerim Sönmezoğlu

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Istanbul University, Arpaemini/Fatih, İstanbul 34093, Turkey.

Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
|December 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans reveal decreased brain activity in autistic patients with infantile spasms. This hypometabolism in the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes suggests a role in autism development.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Infantile spasms are a severe form of epilepsy in infants.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition.
  • Co-occurrence of infantile spasms and ASD is observed, but underlying mechanisms require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate Positron Emission Tomography (PET) findings in children with infantile spasms and autism.
  • To investigate potential differences in brain metabolic activity between patients with and without autism.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 90 patients diagnosed with infantile spasms.
  • PET examinations were performed on 15 patients with autism and 9 controls with infantile spasms.
  • Autism diagnosis was confirmed using the Autism Behaviour Checklist and Childhood Autism Rating Scale.

Main Results:

  • Autism was diagnosed in 15 patients with infantile spasms (11 symptomatic, 4 cryptogenic).
  • PET scans showed significantly decreased metabolic activity in the temporal lobe (86.7%) of autistic patients.
  • Reduced activity was also observed in the frontal (60%) and parietal lobes (46.7%) of autistic patients.

Conclusions:

  • Hypometabolism in the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes is associated with autism in patients with infantile spasms.
  • These findings suggest that widespread brain hypometabolism may contribute to the development of autism in this population.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the neurobiological links between infantile spasms and autism.

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